In The Passionate Teacher, Ron Fried describes the Game of School (GOS) as what happens when teachers and students forsake intellectual work and instead engage in their classes as rituals. Take this opportunity to consider this chapter in light of some of the the other experiences that you've had this semester. What elements of the game of school are you seeing in your placements? How have you seen teachers fight the game of school in their classes? What similarities, if any, did you see between the descriptions of American classes in the Teaching Gap and the Game of School? Finally, what impact will this description of the GOS have on your own approach to teaching as expressed in your teaching philosophy?
I see the game of school being played in both of my placements. In some instances I see the teachers playing the game very well, but in return do not allow the students to play the game very well. In other cases, I see the game being played very well by both the teachers and the students. Some elements to the game of school that I have seen have frequently occurred around the time when a test or quiz in being administered. From the students side of the game, they often conveniently miss that school day and take the assessment the following school day once they have talked to their classmates to see what material was asked on the exam. From the teachers side of the game, I have seen the counter move be to give a completely different quiz or exam to spite those clever students. Another example of the game of school is the checking of homework with the"honor system". The teacher would simply ask each student out loud at the beginning of the class period if they have their homework completed. From the teachers side of the game, it is a quick and easy way to give students credit for their homework without actually grading or looking at any of their materials. From the students side of the game, they simply say they have their homework and hold up papers that look like their homework and get homework credit. Another example of the game of school that I have seen is teachers allowing students open class time to study for a big exam multiple days before the assessment is actually given. From the teachers side of the game, this silent time for students to “study” is code for “I’ll leave you alone, and you leave me alone in order for me to get some work done.” It also allows teachers the opportunity to put responsibility on students if they do not score well on these tests because of not utilizing their class study time wisely. From the students side of the game, they pretend to be busy and welcome the open class time to take a break within their school day.
Ah the game of school. Sometimes we love it. Sometimes we hate it. Some are hall-of-famers. Some are all stars. But regardless we are all players. Within the readings, many of the examples cited are realistic and are prevalent within schools today. I agree with the author when he mentions that although the game of school will continue to be played, as teachers we cannot allow it to bring a negative effect on our classroom. The game cannot be played in ways that may cause situations for students being irresponsible with their work and study habits. Likewise the game cannot be played in ways that may cause situations for teachers to be irresponsible for their work and planning habits. Although the game will be played, I think teachers cannot allow it to reach certain points that will hurt their classroom learning environment. Regarding my own approach to teaching, I believe the game of school will be attempted to be played by the students within my own classroom. Being a new educator, students will probably try as much as they can to play the game of school in their favor. However, not allowing students to play the game of school that cause irresponsible behavior in their learning process will be key at the beginning of the school year, as well as throughout the school year.
I see the game of school being played in both of my placements. In some instances I see the teachers playing the game very well, but in return do not allow the students to play the game very well. In other cases, I see the game being played very well by both the teachers and the students. Some elements to the game of school that I have seen have frequently occurred around the time when a test or quiz in being administered. From the students side of the game, they often conveniently miss that school day and take the assessment the following school day once they have talked to their classmates to see what material was asked on the exam. From the teachers side of the game, I have seen the counter move be to give a completely different quiz or exam to spite those clever students. Another example of the game of school is the checking of homework with the"honor system". The teacher would simply ask each student out loud at the beginning of the class period if they have their homework completed. From the teachers side of the game, it is a quick and easy way to give students credit for their homework without actually grading or looking at any of their materials. From the students side of the game, they simply say they have their homework and hold up papers that look like their homework and get homework credit. Another example of the game of school that I have seen is teachers allowing students open class time to study for a big exam multiple days before the assessment is actually given. From the teachers side of the game, this silent time for students to “study” is code for “I’ll leave you alone, and you leave me alone in order for me to get some work done.” It also allows teachers the opportunity to put responsibility on students if they do not score well on these tests because of not utilizing their class study time wisely. From the students side of the game, they pretend to be busy and welcome the open class time to take a break within their school day.
Ah the game of school. Sometimes we love it. Sometimes we hate it. Some are hall-of-famers. Some are all stars. But regardless we are all players. Within the readings, many of the examples cited are realistic and are prevalent within schools today. I agree with the author when he mentions that although the game of school will continue to be played, as teachers we cannot allow it to bring a negative effect on our classroom. The game cannot be played in ways that may cause situations for students being irresponsible with their work and study habits. Likewise the game cannot be played in ways that may cause situations for teachers to be irresponsible for their work and planning habits. Although the game will be played, I think teachers cannot allow it to reach certain points that will hurt their classroom learning environment. Regarding my own approach to teaching, I believe the game of school will be attempted to be played by the students within my own classroom. Being a new educator, students will probably try as much as they can to play the game of school in their favor. However, not allowing students to play the game of school that cause irresponsible behavior in their learning process will be key at the beginning of the school year, as well as throughout the school year.